The current president of the Catalan government, the Generalitat, Montilla has held this position since he was sworn in in November 2006. Born in Córdoba in 1955, Montilla moved with his family to Sant Joan Despí, a town close to Barcelona, when he was 16 years old; this makes Montilla the first modern Generalitat President to be born outside Catalunya.

He attended Barcelona University where he studied economics and law. Montilla joined the Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) in 1978, becoming a member of the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC) and a member of its National Council two years later. Between 1980 and 2006, Montilla held several political positions including a 20-year service as mayor of Cornellà de Llobregat (another neighbouring town of Barcelona), and was a member of the Barcelona Provincial Council from 1983 and culminating in his term as President of the Council in 2003. He now serves as President of the Catalan Government, with the next election being held in November of 2010.